Disclaimer: I do not own any of J. K. Rowling's characters. Do you think that if I were J.K. Rowling, I would actually be doing this?... Never mind, who knows, maybe she would. Anyways, read and enjoy.

Ch.6 I and Them and Her

Weasley had fallen off the Astronomy Tower, and Granger had jumped off after him, carrying Potter's broom. And what makes matters worse, Granger's afraid of heights and hasn't ridden a broom in six years.

'Oh my God,' I thought, this is going to be completely my fault. He stumbled, I pushed him… it was my right to push him- self defense. The Weasel would have choked me.

3 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

Suddenly, in that millisecond of my thoughts, I felt my broom snatched out of my hands. I looked to see Potter mounting my broom.

'Hey,' I managed to blurt out – until Potter threw himself off the edge.

5 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

'Bloody Merlin,' I whispered, rushing to the edge. My blonde hair fell in front of my eyes as I looked over the edge at the hundreds of feet below.

What do I do, What do I do, What do I do??? I thought frantically. I am going to be responsible of the murder of three people, amongst them, Saint Harry Potter.

OH god, I thought. I have to do something, and I have to do it now!

6.5 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

Immediately, I became the eagle owl that was my animagus form. Instantly letting out a shriek, I flew down the stairs and raced down moving staircases to the first floor. I glided past empty hallways and flew straight into the open door of the DADA room. I saw Snape look up abruptly as I transfigured into a human, still in the air. Panting, I stood to face him.

10 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

'What! What happened?' he asked, standing quickly.

'He… I… and tower…' I panted.

Paling, Snape said with understanding, 'Potter – what did you do?' He muttered a spell at me and I regained my breath instantly.

'Weasley fell off the Astronomy Tower, and Granger and Potter jumped off after him,' I said as fast as my tongue could move.

'WHAT!' cried Snape. Immediately, he threw powder into the fire and dragged me and himself into it.

15 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

I was standing in Dumbledore's office, and before me was Dumbledore, dressed in his bedroom wear. He looked curiously at Snape and I, since Snape was holding me from the top of my arm.

'They fell off the Tower,' said Snape without delay.

The twinkle once present in Dumbledore's eyes flashed and went out. He looked straight at a large red bird in his room, sitting on a bar.

'Fawkes, Go!' he shouted.

The bird, Fawkes, instantly burst into flames, then disappeared.

17 sec. since Ron fell off the Tower

Quickly, Dumbledore threw a powder similar to that of Snape's into his fire. He shouted, 'Chyssandra! Now, They fell. Astronomy Tower!'

'I'm going!' said a young woman's voice from the other side of the rippling flame.

Dumbledore threw more powder into the flames, 'Minerva! Please join us now.'

A second later, a much disheveled Professor McGonagall entered the room wearing a robe over her nightclothes.

'Sit, please,' said Dumbledore, taking a seat behind his desk.

Professor McGonagall seemed angry at the fact that she had just been awakened only to sit down. McGonagall sat at the seat near Dumbledore's desk on his right, Snape on his left, and I was summoned a chair near the front.

'I have just heard, not a minute ago, that Harry Potter, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Weasley have fallen off the Astronomy Tower...'

'What!' shouted McGonagall, jolted awake suddenly.

'However,' continued Dumbledore, 'that is now under control. Once I was alerted by Severus, I sent Fawkes and Chyssandra.' McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief. 'I expect them here in a few minutes.'

'And yet, I would very much like to know,' Dumbledore's eyes bored into my face,' exactly how this tragic incident happened. And I would like to know, now.'

I looked up at Snape, who was looking at me – disappointed.

'I…' I stuttered, 'I was – Potter and I were going to be discussing something on the Astronomy Tower,' I said quickly, not daring to look into Dumbledore's hard gaze.

'He- Potter brought Granger and Weasley along with him. Weasley and I – we got into a fight. And in self- defense,' I said, remembering my thoughts earlier, 'I pushed him, since he had it in his mind to strangle me-' I looked around and found the three Professors looking at me, 'so… I pushed him… and… he stumbled and fell off the tower.' I said in a rush.

'So, Granger. She sorta went bezerk, she grabbed Potter's broom and jumped off after him. And then Potter stole my broom and jumped off as well.'

I stopped talking and looked into Professor Dumbledore's eyes coolly, when I felt like I was bubbling inside.

'You pushed Mr. Weasley in an act of self defense,' said Dumbledore calmly, 'and then what did you do after Mr. Potter jumped off the roof of the tower?'

Finding this among the most unusual questions to have been asked, I raised an eyebrow. 'You would like to know what I did?' I asked, 'I didn't do anything!' immediately, I tried to calm my voice, 'None of what happened is related to anything that I did,' I said slowly, looking anywhere but Dumbledore's eyes. It seemed that only the both of us were in the room, that I didn't hear McGonagall's snort or see Snape shake his head.

'How did Snape find out about what happened. Did he see it happen? Or perhaps everything was over before I sent Fawkes and Mr. Potter might have told him- though I find it unlikely,' said Dumbledore looking my way.

That's what he was asking, I realized, then decided to tell him. 'I- after that happened,' get yourself under control, I told myself, enough stuttering, 'After those events, I immediately told Snape what happened and he brought us here.'

'I would think that it is quite a long walk from the tip of the Astronomy Tower to Professor Snape's classroom on the first floor. How did you get there in time?

Oh no, I thought. What do I say, I didn't have my broom- so I can't say I flew. Apparating is out of the question, so only one thing left, 'I ran.'

'You ran?' repeated Dumbledore.

'I know a shortcut,' I said quickly, 'a series of very good shortcuts.'

'Is that so?' said Dumbledore, 'How interesting.'

At that moment, I could hear someone coming up the rotating staircase Dumbledore had. I heard crying, panting, and a soothing voice.

The door to Dumbledore's office opened and Fawkes flew threw to land on his perch. Weasley walked threw as well, with Granger crying her eyes out on his neck. She seemed glued to him, and as Professor Chyssandra tried to pry her fingers off Weasley, Granger only held on tighter, wailing.

And then Potter walked in.

1 sec. later

My chair was over turned and I was on the ground, struggling for my life. Potter had his hands clamped down on my neck and seemed to have it in his head to beat the hell out of me.

But, this time there weren't two people on me, just one. I brought up my fist and punched Potter in the face, cleanly letting his glasses fly across the room.

Yet, suddenly, we were pulled forcefully apart.

'Get off me! GET OFF ME!' Potter shouted, his green eyes- now uncovered by his glasses- were brilliantly lit with raw anger. 'I'll KILL him, I'LL KILL HIM!' Yet, the magic that held us apart wouldn't let him – or I – move from our places.

In a last attempt, he pulled out his wand at a terrifying speed.

It was then, that for me – time stopped.

Was this how I, Draco Malfoy, was going to die? The look in Potter's eyes were unmistakable – death. In one breath, he could kill me, he would kill me.

What about all the French lessons, waltzing, perfect manners? Had everything that I had been taught in the Mansion going to go unused?

Was I going to die, standing in the Headmaster's office, surrounded by undoubtedly three of the most powerful wizards, facing the one and only Harry Potter?

Had my insults stung that much?

'EXPELIARMUS!'

Dumbledore stood – nearly glowing with power – holding Potter's wand.

Professor Chyssandra and McGonagall were standing around Harry, talking quickly… undoubtedly trying to soothe him.

I felt Severus take a hold of my shoulders, he was shaking me… getting me to look at him. But a haze was spreading over my vision, I couldn't focus.

The world seemed to dull – time started to slow…

I heard him call out in alarm; he was still shaking me-

'Draco? Draco!!'

I could hear my heart beat. I could hear myself breathing.

And in pure relief, I fainted.

Later, I opened my eyes to the face of my Professor, Snape. I was in the Hospital Wing, and a pale light was crawling through the windows.

'What time is it?' I slurred.

'Very early,' said Snape briefly as I sat up, 'How are you feeling?'

I grumbled, thinking if I could get away with skipping a lesson, but when I saw Snape's raised eyebrows, I said, 'Fine… fine… why am I here?'

He let out a hoarse laugh, 'You fainted… in front of Potter and Mr. Weasley, and Ms. Granger.'

'I - what? When,' suddenly, everything came flooding back to me. 'No – don't answer that.' I was silent for a few minutes.

'Does Dumbledore know… about,' I looked around the empty room,' the owl?' I hinted.

'No,' said Snape quickly, 'but he more than suspects.' He looked me in the eye, 'We all do – they hadn't even hit the ground by the time Fawkes got there. You came impossibly fast.'

'I know,' I said thoughtfully, 'So, what do I do?'

'There is nothing you can do, if Albus and Minerva both suspect you – they'll find out,' he paused as we both heard quick light footsteps, and the sudden opening of the Hospital Wing door.

'You'll be able to go to classes today – if you want,' said Snape, teacher's mask in place, accompanied with a smirk. Parkinson came to my bed, panting.

When Snape had left, she said quietly, 'You didn't come back last night.'

'Obviously,' I pointed to my surroundings.

'Is it because of… the duel with the whole trio.'

'No – how did you know they were all there?' I asked curiously.

'Hexed some Quidditch player,' she said with a wave of her hand. I was slightly impressed, but then again I knew Pansy could get quite handy with her wand, she knew some of the most useful spells – in times of defense.

'What really happened,' I explained, 'is…' I paused. Should I tell her this? But, I continued, 'Weasel fell off the Astronomy Tower,' her eyebrows shot into her hair, ' then Potter and Granger jumped after him.'

'Really,' she interrupted.

'I'm not lying,' I said strictly, 'So, of course, the only choice I had was to tell Snape, who told Dumbledore. Now, they're fine,' I sighed sadly.

'And you're here, because?' she looked at me curiously.

Now, this was something I really didn't want to say. She'll tell everyone, I thought. So, I said, 'Potter tried to strangle me –'

'Why?' she said, straightening.

'I don't know- probably for pushing the Weasel off the Tower or something…' I said normally. ' When he didn't succeed, he was going to Avada Kedavra me –'

'WHAT,' she cried, standing up.

'Dumbledore stopped him,' I said, 'and so I only fainted.'

'Oh, Draco,' she said, great sadness in her eyes as she pushed my hair out of

my forehead. 'I was…,' he voice lowered to a whisper, 'so worried.'

I looked into her eyes and found true sadness there, no mask. I remembered what I had told her last.


'Stop Talking, Parkinson,' I growled dangerously. 'You don't know what you're saying. I'm too good for you. I will always be too good for you. So stop pestering me, crazy woman.'

Yet, she was the only one who was here.

'Thank you,' I said solidly, 'for your concern.' A minute later, she was gone.

An hour later, I heaved myself up to go down to breakfast. Getting properly dressed, I joined my fellow Slytherins at our house table.

'Tell us what happened,' was the first thing I heard as I sat down.

'No, no,' I gave a huge fake yawn, 'I'm feeling rather tired.' I looked over at Parkinson, who was gracefully smirking. 'Lunch.'

I decided to skive off divination, making sure Snape wrote her a note though. I always liked the castle when it was much quieter. Time passed gracefully, though soon it was lunch. That was when I decided to tell them the story.

'He just bloody fell off the tower,' I explained, 'The crazy kid. And, then you wouldn't even bloody believe what happened. The Mudblood jumped after him; of course, she grabbed Potter's broom, but then she just jumped. She hasn't ridden a broom in six years, and Potter said she was afraid of heights.

Well, of course, what does the Saint Potter do? He just bloody steals my own brooms and jumps off the bloody tower. He jumped off the bloody tower- with my broom! I mean, I would have been pleased to have him finally dead, but with my broom- no.

Of course,' I said royally, 'Somehow Dumbledore rescued them. Bloody luck, I'll tell you.'

I turned to look at Crabbe and Goyle. 'Can you possibly believe it? How in the world did he jump off that tower- what got into his head?'

'Well, they are his friends, I guess,' said Goyle.

'Friends?' I laughed, 'If I fell off a tower, would you jump off to save me- not that I'd do anything so stupid.'

I looked at them and curiously my side of the table fell silent. No one looked into my eyes. Parkinson seemed preoccupied with her nails, Zambini had started serving himself some food, and the rest were simply looking down.

'Would you,' I repeated quietly, 'Would anyone jump off the tower?'

'Well, it's never happened before, Draco. We shouldn't worry ourselves with such things,' said Nott smoothly as the other's faces looked up and nodded in agreement.

'If I fell off a tower,' I repeated slowly, 'would anyone save me?'

I looked at Parkinson; there was a curious look in her eyes – like she wanted to ask me something, but not here.

And in the silence I realized that none of them would. But, if we were friends, they would. If we were friends… were we friends? No, we were just that… Slytherins. Oh, how the word covered so many lies and sins… betrayals. I think it's better kept that way.

For, I wouldn't jump off any bloody towers for them.

Ancient Runes was a boring experience. I simply huffed arrogantly throughout it all, without so much as holding a quill. Granger took so much notes that I didn't doubt she could publish a book of what Bins was saying. Nott would look at me every once in a while then take a few notes himself.

So, it was with great pleasure that I heard the bell to dinner and found myself strolling out of the class.

In the Great Hall, I sat at my table. Gregory and Vincent on either side of me, Nott and Zambini in front, when suddenly I felt someone missing.

'Where's Parkinson?' I asked, curiously.

'Dunno,' said Vincent, 'I saw her in Divination today.'

'There she is,' said Gregory suddenly, pointed to the large wooden doors of the Great Hall.

I looked towards there, and automatically felt that something was wrong. No – more than that… much more.

Her straightened blonde hair bounced where she had a few curls. Her green robes, trimmed with silver, fairly floated behind her as she walked to the Gryffindor table.

What in the world was she doing, strolling to the Gryffindor table?!?

Simultaneously, we seemed to look into each other's eyes. She was furious, as much as she was trying to hide it behind the blue of her eyes, I could see it. She stopped by Potter's part of the table. She was furious at him, for me.

She was doing this for me.

Oh no, I thought as Granger got up, with her eyes narrowed. Then there was shouting. Potter laughed. In practically no time at all, Pansy had her wand out.

In pure shock, the whole picture seemed to go deaf to only my ears. Why was she standing up for me?

Then the trio had their wands out as well. And Potter stood up close to Pansy. Too close for safety.

Too close to her who was doing this for me.

'Hey!!' I shouted, purposely attracting the attention of the Professors, 'What do you think you're doing, Potter!?!' With that I quickly stood up and walked to Pansy's side, putting an arm around her waist. I could hear the teacher's coming, but I still fit in one more comment. 'Is that what you're good at, Potter,' I said, an eyebrow up and smirk in place, 'beating up a girl? 3 against 1, that's hardly fair.'

By then, Snape was here, 'What has happened? Ms. Parkinson, what's the matter?' I looked at Pansy surprised – there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her before.

'Oh, Professor,' she sighed, 'I'm feeling quite nauseous,' she swayed in my arms, 'I think I just might…' and then her knees bucked and she fainted. I had already picked up on the plan, so I held Pansy in my arms.

'Professor Snape,' I cried, as though fighting for justice, 'They ganged up against her- 3 against 1. And now, she's fainted.'

'Take her to the hospital wing, Mr. Malfoy,' said Snape formally, 'And I will deal with these three for attacking my student.'

As soon as I had carried Pansy out of the large wooden doors of the Great Hall, I turned onto the grounds. Lightly, Pansy jumped out of my arms and grinned brightly.

'That was quite a performance, Pansy,' I said looking at her as she fairly bounced on the grounds. It was sunset, and the last rays of the sun reflected her blonde hair gracefully.

And, it was then that I realized that she was beautiful. Pansy Parkinson was a beautiful witch. She was talking to me, flicking her hair and smirking evilly, but for the second time in those few days, I didn't hear what was being said.

All I could do was comprehend what had just happened. And as I looked at her in the stunning rays of the sun, I realized that she was the only one who stood up for me. That she was beautiful, not only in looks or elegance. But, her mind, though sometimes quite stubborn, worked quite quickly. That she could concoct evil plans in the shortest amount of time. That she could manipulate the scene around her.

She was an evil and beautiful little witch.

And I loved it.

'Draco? Draco, are you listening to anything I'm saying?' I heard as Pansy looked into my eyes.

'What?' I said, looking at her impatient form, 'What were you saying?'

'I wanted to ask you something,' she said, then cautiously looked away from me towards the lake. 'Do you remember… at lunch, when you asked if anyone would jump off the tower for you?'

'Yes,' I said, eyebrows lowering, what in the world was she talking about that for?

'Well,' she looked towards me, 'I must ask you something first.'

'What is it,' I asked slowly, 'that you want to ask me?'

'Would you…,' she paused, then looked at me, her blue eyes bright, 'Would you jump off the tower for me?'

That was what she wanted to ask me?

Ha, I could almost laugh.

Almost.

What in the world was I supposed to say to that?

And, for once in my life, I considered actually saying the truth.

'I… if you were in danger,' I said, looking at her, 'I mean – life threatening. Then, I… I'd jump off the tower for you Pansy Parkinson. For you, I would.

But, only you,' I said, looking at her intently, as she grinned in the fading light. 'And maybe my mother,' I added, thoughtfully.

'So, you didn't mean it?' she asked, 'about… I'm not black and white, anymore?'

'No,' I said strictly,' you're still black and white; I'm just no longer gray.'

And, in a fit of tears, she threw herself at me, in a massive hug.

'Parkinson? Parkinson!?!,' I said, thinking: What in the world is happening?

'It's just,' she said, her breath catching, 'I love you.'

Oh.

Oh.

Oh my.

Later, the door of the Great Hall opened and Nott, Zambini, Vincent, and Gregory came out to meet us.

'Nice show,' said Nott.

I looked at them standing there, with her at my side.

And I was no longer alone.

Author's Note: Don't you just love Dracky- what a hero! sigh So, anyways- do u like the chapter? Hope so, cause I do! Lol, please review!